On July 16, 2025, a signing ceremony took place in Washington to formalize the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Nuclear Cooperation between the United States and Bahrain. The event was attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
Ann Ganzer, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, opened the ceremony. She highlighted the significance of developing civil nuclear energy as a priority for the United States, reflecting recent executive orders signed by the President. Ganzer emphasized that this MOU marks an important step in deepening civil nuclear cooperation between both nations.
Secretary Rubio expressed gratitude for the efforts leading to this agreement and stressed its importance as a first step towards deeper civil nuclear collaboration. "This is an important signing," he said, "an example that the United States is prepared to be a partner with any nation on Earth that wants to pursue a civil nuclear program." He praised Bahrain as a strong partner and mentioned ongoing collaborations such as free trade agreements and other strategic partnerships.
Foreign Minister Al-Zayani expressed appreciation for Secretary Rubio's welcome and acknowledged the role of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in strengthening ties between Bahrain and the United States. He stated that "the signing of this MOU on strategic civilian nuclear cooperation further advances this process."
The MOU aims to enhance energy security, promote economic cooperation, and uphold high standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as part of regional security efforts.
The ceremony concluded with both officials signing the agreement amid applause from attendees.
During a question session following the ceremony, Secretary Rubio addressed concerns about Israeli strikes on Syria, noting active communication with involved parties to resolve tensions.
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